March 7, 2018

Tomoko’s daughter Beata is a new mother. Her son Kai was born
May 11, 2017. Not surprisingly, Tomoko loves her grandson, and sings lullabies
to him. “He likes Brahms,” Tomoko says.

Kia has good taste: Brahm’s lullaby is probably the most
well known one, usually called “Cradle Song” – “Lullaby and goodnight, with
roses bedight” (you can hear it at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lullaby_wound_up_clock_guten_abend_gute_nacht.ogg)
. Published in 1868, the lullaby was dedicated to Brahms’ friend Bertha Faber
to honor the birth of her second son. Variations of that melody were woven into Brahms’
Symphony No. 2 in D major Opus 73 first movement.

Other famous composers have written lullabies – or songs resembling
lullabies, such as 6/8 time berceuses, which Chopin pioneered. Ravel wrote Berceuses sur le nom de Gabriel Fauré, Benjamin Godard wrote a berceuse from his opera Jocelyn, Stravinsky’s
berceuse is part of his Firebird ballet, and Gershwin wrote Lullaby
for String Quartet.

Lullabies play an important role in young children’s
development. The simple, repetitive melody helps little ones go to sleep. Lullabies
are also an early form of communication; they are usually sung with emotion
that conveys warmth and tenderness, and can hold a child’s undivided attention.
The rhythm of lullabies also helps a child learn the rhythm of language.

Additionally, lullabies serve as a way to pass down societal
traditions, and have been sung for centuries around the world. Tomoko and Beata
sometimes sing Japanese lullabies together, bringing back memories when Beata herself was
a baby. It's a lovely way to start a musical life.